Automatic musical instrument



R. KUSS.. AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 11,1916.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET I.

R. KUSS.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. II, IsIs.

1,318,773. PaInIed 0@I.14,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cu., nm'w, u.

R. KUSS. AUTOMATIC MusIcAI INSTRUMENT.

1,818,773. APPLICATION FILED NOV. lll, 1916- Patented Oct. 14:, 4 SHEETS-SHINE!F 3- /ff ff, 4 T- I '---.pd ,P Tiff f-MI INI f--I i 5J 755 7 l i i i y y f :TTT

4 \\\II\H\U\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \\\"\v\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Il" g 40 T' ZI/ Il I y II" I" a I' IIIIINII I I 'l (lf vweM/o @51g A4 /Hovnmw uw BM PLANOQRAPH C0 WASHINGTON D c R. KUSS.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSRUNIENT.

APPucATloN FILED N0v.11.191e.

` 1,318,773. V Patented 001;.14,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

I ect of the King` of Germany,

UNITED sinriis rariinr OFFICE.

RUDOLF Kuss, ork NEW YORK,

N.Y.,. Assisr'ivoit'fro n; BOLLERMAN, INC., 'or NEW YORK, N. Y., A ConPonATIoN oFNIiWYonK. f

AUTOMATIC ,MUSICAL INs'rRUiviENT.

j To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, RUDOLF and resident of New-York city, boroughk f Manhattan,

in the county of New York and Stateof kgovernor bellows- A9,-9,'in Fig. 8;

New York, have-invented certainnew and ruseful Improvements in Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the specification.

My invention has particular reference to improvements in pneumatic` player mechanisms for musical instruments, such as player pianos, obj ects of my invention being toprovide simple andlefhcientA means to enablel accenting of the notes `of, compositions being played; to enable the perforated music's'heet to be rapidly operated when desired, without production of musical tones, commonly called`fskipping,'and to enable rapid rerolling of `the music sheet.

My vinvention comprises novel details of improvement and combinations of parts that will be more fully then pointed 'out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein, n

Figure l-is a front elevation illustrating an air chest equipped with my improve- -ments; i

Fig. 2 yis `a detail sectional plank view of the skipper valve mechanism,` enlarged', the section being taken substantially on line 2,

Y "2, in Fig. 1;'

Fig. 3 "s a 'cross sectional view of the. skipper valve substantially on the line 3,3, inFigzQ; y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the player action controlling devices rtaken substantially ontheline 4, 4, in'Figxl; i f

Fig. 5 Vis an enlarged sectional view of kmotor controlling valves'for skipping and for rerolling the perforated music sheet, the section being taken substantially on theline 5, 5, in Fig. 8; j 1. f

Fig. 6 is an enlargedsectional'plan-illustrating tempo valve mechanism taken substantially on the line 6, 6, in Fig. 8;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating an air chamber in the main air chest for communication with a motor, the section being taken on ltheline 7, 7, in Fig. 5,;y

i Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevation of one end Kuss, 'a subi following a -f hereinafter set forthvand valve chest in section substantially on the Specification of Letters Patent.A y .Y atented 0,013, 14, 19419 Application filed November 11, 1916.` =SerialNo. 130,694.V f

line 8, 8, in'` Fig. 5, tlieibellowsVK,beingl;

omitted; 1j

Fig. 9 is alsectional plan view through the `substantially on the y.line

Fig. 10 is a face view of-a portion of the* frontewall of the main air chest, hereinafter more particularly referred to; Y Fig. 11is an enlarged vertical section substantially on the line` 11, 11, in Fig. 1, illustrating: parts vfork controlling rewinding of the Ymusic4 sheet; f l

Fig. 112 is a section substantially on the line 12,.12,'in Fig. 1,`illustrating` parts for controlling theplaying mechanism;

Fig. 13 is asection substantiallyV on the@ line, 13, 13 in Fig. 1, illustrating means ycontrolling the skipping= operation.'

Fig.z14.is an. enlarged sectional view of the skipping valve, substantially on the lineV 14, 14, inl Fig. 13;

Figu15` is a section substantiallyv on the line 15, 15, rin Fig. 1;' and vFig. 16"is a sectional detail' through block L2. 1' r I Similar numerals and `letters of reference indicatel corresponding parts in the several views; u Y Y. In the accompanying drawings A indicates tlieniain exhaust chest, pedals being All of said'parts may be arlby screws and provides a chamber 17 in ii'idicatedfat `B adapted to actuate pumping -bellowsQ 'Fiqualizingbellows Dare in jconununic'ation with chest A through port or por-ts 14. ranged in any well known manner, and are adapted toy be included in an automatic `i 'musical1instrument. AtV one end of kchest A communication with a channel or pipe 18 that yis intended'to communicate with the action l chest of any suitable pneumatic player mechan'ism.A `At is a recess in block E, a diaphragm or pouch 26 being shown secured to block -Eseparating chamber 17 from recess ai A small bleed passage c2 provides communication between recess e and chest A; A tube 16 is.inconiniunication at one end with chest '-A, being shown `in communicatiton lwith equalizing bellows D through port 16a,

the bellows being in communication with chest A through one or more ports la, the opposite end or' tube 16 opposing diaphragm or movable member 26. Ordinary or normal playing may be carried out with the parts in such condition, but when it is desired to accent a note or notes, the operator may merely operate the pedal or pedals more rapidly or forcibly to cause suction through bleed e2 to exhaust recess e and draw back diaphragm 26 from tube 16, to permit a greater volume of air then to be drawn from the kaction chest through tube 16 to increase the blows of the hammer on the strings of the piano.

To control the action of diaphragm 26, to stop the operation of the action, for purposes to be stated, I provide the following arrangements: A tube 25 communicates with recess c and also communicates with a channel 25.1 formed in a chest F shown secured on chest A (Figs. 1 and 11).` The interior ofchest F is in communication with chest y A through a passage 25D (Fig. 11). A valve 24 normally closes the passage 24k in a wall of chest F that communicates `with channel 25a. VValve 24h on the stem 24;C and spaced from valve 24 on said stem normally opens the passage 24a to the interior of chest F. A recess f in a wall of chest F is covered by a diaphragm 23 and a bleed passage f3 provides communication between the interior of chest F and Vrecess f. Under normal conditions exhaust in chest A through passage 25l keeps valve 24: closed, hence since pipe 25 is, through channel 25, normally in communication with the space f2 in chest F and also in communication with therecess e, the exhaust in said Chests and recess will be Ibalanced so that thediaphragm 26 will be inactive and loose, and will permit the flow of air from the action chest through chamber 17 to tube 16, thence through equalizing bellows 15 to chest A.

I provide means to permit acceleration of the motor that drives the Winding mechanism for the perforated music sheet, in order, when desired, not to play a portion of the composition, commonly called skipping, and at such time to shut off or stop the operation of the action. For such purpose 'I provide means to cause diaphragm 26 to closeY against tube 16 and at the same time to operate devices to cause acceleration of the motor for skipping. To prevent operation of the action I provide the following devices: A tube 21 communicates through a channel f* with recess f (Fig. 11), which tube 21 leads to a channel 21a in a block or chest G, (Figs. 1 and 2), to a port 20, normally closed by a valve 20a, (Fig. 3). Said valve may be operated by a push button 19 to open port 20a. vWhen button 19 is pressed and valve 201 opens, air entering channel 21a will flow through pipe 21 and channel f4 to recess f and cause movement of diaphram 23 due t0 exhaust in chest A, which will operate stem 24C and close valve 241 while opening valve 24, whereupon air entering recess 25l will fiow through pipe 25 into recess c, permitting diaphragm 26 to be drawn against tube 16 to stop the operation of the action. At the time that air enters port 20, as above stated, pipe 22, that communicates with said port through channel 22, will receive air. Said pipe leads to a channel 22b in a chest 29 (Figs. 1 and 13), said channel communicating with a recess 22c shown in a wall of said chest, over which recess a diaphragm 27 is secured. A bleed 29a provides communication between recess 22c and the chamber 29b of chest 29. Saidl chamber communicates through bleed 30 with chest A. At 23 is a valve shown adapted t0 operate in an opening in the wall of chest 29 opposing diaphragm 27, said valve being adapted normally to close a channel 3,1a that communicates with pipe 31 (Fig. let). Pipe 31 leads to a recess 31b in a wall of a chest H that is shown secured on chest A. A diaphragm or movable member covers recess 31" and normally closes against a tube 33, shown passing through chest H and communicating with chest A. The motor for causing the music sheet to traverse the tracker in an ordinary manner is to be connected to a pipe I. Said pipe communicates with a chamber 13 at one end of chest A (Figs. 5, G and 7). Said chamber communicates through a port 12 with chest H (Fig. shown secured upon chest A over .arecess 10 in the front wall of chest A.

Recess 10 is in communication through port or passage 11' with chest H (Fig. G), said port or passage being controlled by valve 11a to be operated by rod 11b for controlling the speed of the motor in any wel] known manner. The equalizing bellows K coinmunicates with chest A through passage 8 and with recess 10 through port 9 (Fig. 9), the normal motor operating exhaust being from pipe I through chamber 13, port 12, chest H, port 11, recess 10, port 9, equalizer K, and passage S to exhaust chest A. W'hen skipping is desired, the valve or button 19 'will be operated, to cause opening of port 20, to stop the operation of the action as before explained, and when air enters pipe 22 and flows into recess 22C, the exhaust from chamber 29h and channel 30 to chest A will cause valve 28 to move and place pipe 31 through channel 31 into communication with chamber 29h, and exhaust is then effected through pipe 31, whereupon diaphragm 32 will be drawn away from tube 33 and thus direct communication from chest cause the perforated vmusic sheet to be. drawn more rapidly across the tracker. To stop the skipping action and again cause playing et the composition, button 19 is released,

Y whereupon valve 2()a closes, exhaust through ppes21 and 22 is shut off, valves 24 and 24b will return to their normal positions (Fig. 11),v permitting the release of. diaphragm 26 trom tube 16, and valve 28 will cause shutting off exhaust from pipe 31 and recess 31h, whereupon exhaust through tube 33 will again draw diaphragm 32 against the latter,`and the motor will continue to operate under usual conditions.

I also provide means for causing-,operav tion 'of the motor :tor rewinding or rerolling the perforated music sheet, and at such chest F is provided with a passage 1a normally open to atmosphere by reason of the normally open condition of valve 1 (Figs.

1 and 12). Said valve is shown provided with a lstem 1b having a valve 1c normally y closing passage 1a. A diaphragm 1dl normally acts against stem 1b to keep valve 1` closed, said diaphrao'm being shown over a recess 1e in a wall of the chest F. A bleed provides communication between chest F and recess 1e. A pipe 2 provides communication between chests A and F. A tube 4 communicates with recess 1e through 'channel 4a (Fig. 12) andsaid tube communicates with a passage 4b in a block L shown secured on chest A. Said passage 4b -is normally open, and is adapted to be closed by a valve 5 (Figs. 1 and 15). One -arm of a lever 34 is connected with stem 5a of valve 5, and the opposite arm of said lever is adapted to operate a valve stem 35a and at 35 in a block L2 (see Fig. 16), similar to that illustrated in Fig. 15, valve 35, however, being normally closed. A tube 37 communicates with the passage 37 a in block L2 (Fig. 16) corresponding to passage 4b of block L, and leads to and communicates with recess f of chest Fr (Fig.`11), Jfor a purpose similar to that of pipe 21. .A pipe 6 communicates through channel t'withpassage lal .'(Fig. 12), being thus normally open to kat-vr mosphere, and at its oppositeend pipe 6 is in communication witha recess 711L in a wall of chest II (Fig. 5). A diaphragm 7 covers said recess and opposes a tube 39 that communicates with chest ,I-I and with chest A. Since air normally enters pipe 6 and thence passes under diaphragm 7, exhaust in chest A normally will causediaphragm 7 to close tube 39, so that normal owof air from the motor to chest A will be through the cham-` ber 13 and ports previously described con-` trolled byrvvalve 11a. y reroll the music sheet the lever 341will be with valve indicated When it is desired toy swung to the right (Fig. 1), thereby closing valve 5 and opening valve 35. The closing of valvel 5 shuts off atmospherefrom-pipe4, whereupon diaphragm l1d willJbe drawn away from valve stem 1b by reason of' exhaust in lthe recess 1e through bleed 3 into chest F and valve 1 will close, valve 1c thereupon opening communicationl Jfrom chest F through passage 6aL and pipe 6 to recess 7 a. Exhaust from chamber 7 a through pipe 6, chest F', and thence to chest A will cause Ldiaphragm 7 to be drawn away from tube 39, whereupon full exhaust through said tube from` the motor to chest A will be `caused for acceleration of the speed of the motor for rerolling the music sheet, it being understood that any reverse gearing of the f rerolling mechanism will be operated in a well known manner. A rod 40 (Fig. 1) connected with lever 34 may be connected with the reverse mechanism for operating the latter at the time that lever 34 .is moved to `cause operation of valves 5 and 35, so that the mechanism will be set for rerolling at the time that diaphragm 7 is `.drawn away from tube 39. It will be understood that when lever 34 is moved, causing opening of valve 35, as ,before stated, air will flow through tube 37 to recess f, of chest F, therebypermitting exhaust in chest F to cause diaphragm 23 to operate valves 24 and 24b to shut o exhaust fromr pipe 25 and admit air thereto, whereby exhaust in chest lA will draw diaphragm 26 against tube 16 l to shut off exhaust from the action to stop the latter, in manner before described, -during rerolling of the music sheet.

v While I have described diaphragm' 26, tube 16 and bleed e2 as adaptedfor use for accentin'g desired portions of a musical composition being rendered,merely by increasing the umping operation at the time desired, and llave also described said diaphragm and tube as coperative for stopping the operation of the action when skipping or rerolling is desired, by allowing air to enter the recess e for the lastitwo named operations, it` will be understood that said diaphragm, tube and bleed may be used only Jfor accenting, which would be accomplished "by not connecting pipe 25 thereto. In other words, diaphragm 26, tube 16 and bleed e2',

may be used with or without skipping or rerolling mechanisms, or both, the arrangements I have shown, therefor, being simple and convenient tor stopping the operation of the action when skipping or rerolling is to be effected.y

Having now described my invention what I claim is 1. `The combination of an exhaust chest, a secondaryfchest provided with a recess, a diaphragm over said recess, a bleed providing communication between said recess and the-first named chest, saidchests having a passage Vproviding communication between said chests and opposed to said diaphragm, and means to provide communication between said secondary chest and the action chest.

2. The combination of an exhaust chest, an equalizing bellows communicating therewith, a secondary chest, a tube providing communication between the last named chest and said bellows, the secondary chest having a recess opposing the tube, a diaphragm over said recess to coact with said tube, a bleed providing communication between the first named chest and said recess, and means to provide communication between the secondary chest and an action chest.

3. The combination of an `exhaust chest, a secondary chest, a passage providing communication therebetween, a movable mem-- ber to control said passage, a bleed provid- Aing communication between the first named chest anda space opposing said movable member, means to provide communication between the secondary chest and an action chest, a tube communicating with said space, means normally providing communication between said tube and the irst named chest, and means to at will shut off such communication and admit air to said tube to cause the diaphragm to shut ofi air from said passage.

4f. The combination of an exhaust chest, a

, secondary chest, a passage providing communication therebetween, a movable member to control said passage, a bleed providing communication between the first named chest and al space opposing said movable member, means to provide communication between the secondary chest and an action chest, a tube communicating with said space, a third chest in communication with the first named chest, said tube being in normal communication with the third chest, valves fto close communication between the last named chest and said tube and open communication from said tube to atmos- `phere,and means to at will cause operation of said valves. v

5. The combination of an Vexhaust chest,

a secondary chest in normal working communication therewith and adapted for communication with an action chest, a movable member to control exhaust from the secondary to the first named chest, a bleed providing normal exhaust on one side of said member, whereby increased exhaust on said side of said member will cause it to increase the communication between the exhaust and secondary chests to cause increase of exhaust in the action chest, a tube in communication with a space on one side of said member, valve-means normally closing said tube to atmosphere and placing said tube in communica-tion with the exhaust chest, and means controllable at will to shut off communication between said tube and the exhaust lchest and to open said tube to atmosphere.

(i. The combination of an exhaust chest, a secondary chest in normal working communication therewith and adapted for communication with an action chest, a movable member to control exhaust from the secondary to the first named chest, a bleed providing normal exhaust on one side of said member, whereby increased exhaust on said side of said member will cause it to increase the communication between the exhaust and secondary chests to cause increase of exhaust in the action chest, a tube in communication with a space on one side of said member, valve-means normally closing said tube to atmosphere and placing said tube in communication with the exhaust chest, means controllable at will to shut olf communication between said tube and the exhaust chest and to open said tube to atmosphere, a third chest adapted for communication with a motor and normally in communication through a passage with the exhaust chest, an additional passage to control communication between the third chest and the exhaust chest, a movable member to control the last named passage, 'and means controlled by the operation of the third named means to cause said movable member to open communication between said passage and said third chest and the exhaust chest.

7. The combination of an exhaust chest, a secondary chest, a passage providing communication therebetween, a movable member to control said passage, a bleed providing communication between the first named chest and a. space opposing said movable member, means to provide communication between the secondary chest and an action chest, a tube communicating with said space, means normally providing communication through said ltube to the first named chest, means to at will shut off such communication and radmit air to said tube to cause the diaphragm to shut olf air from said passage, lanother chest in normal communication with the first named chest and adapted for communication with a motor, a 'tube providing communication between the last and first named chests, a movable member to control the flow from said other chest to the iirst named chest, said chest having a recess opposing said member, a tube communicating with said recess, a valve normally closing said tube, and means controlled by said second named means to cause admission of air to said recess when air is admitted to the first named movable member. 1

8. The combination of an exhaust chest, a secondary chest, a passage providing communication therebetween, a movable lnember to control said passage, a bleed providing communication between the first named chest and a space opposing said movable member, means to provide communication between the secondary chest and an action chest, a tube communicating with said space, means'normally providing communication through said tube to the first named chest, means to at will shut olf such communication and admit air to said tube to cause the diaphragm to shut 0E air from said passage, another chest in normal communication with the first named chest and adapted for communication with a motor, a tube providing communication between the first and last named chests, the last named chest having a recess, a diaphragm over the recess opposing said tube, a tube communicating with said recess, a valve to control said tube, a fourth chest, a bleed providing communication between the first and last named chests, a diaphragm to operate said valve, the last named chest having a recess opposed to the diaphragm, and a tube in communication with said recess and with the second named means for controlling the How of air for operating the last ynamed diaphragm and valve.

9. The combination of an exhaust chest, a secondary chest, a passage providing communication therebetween, a movable member to control said passage, a bleed providing communication between the first named chest and a space opposing said movable member, means to provide communication between the secondary chest and an action chest, a tube communicating with said space, means normally providing communication through said tube to the irst named chest, means to at will shut ofi1 such communication and admit air to said tube to cause the movable member to shut ofi' air from said passage, another chest in normal communication with the first named chest and adapted for communication with a motor, a tube providing communication between the first and last named chests, the last named chest having a recess, a diaphragm over the recess opposing said tube, a tube communicating with said recess, a chest F in communication with the first named chest, the last named tube being connected to said chest F, a valve normally admitting air to said tube and a valve normally closing communication between chest F and said tube, a diaphragm opposing said valve, said chest F having a recess opposing the diaphragm, a bleed connecting said chest with said recess, a tube 4: communicating with said recess, a normally open valve to rcontrol said tube, a 'Lul-e 37 communicating with the third named means, means normally closing vcommunication to said tube, and means to open communication to said tube and close communication to the tube Il. Signed at New York city, in the county of New York, and State of New York, this 4th day of October, A. D. 1916.

RUDOLF KUSS.

Witnesses:

T. F. BOURNE, MARIE F. WAINRIGHT.

copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

